Evan Longoria reports to Spring Training camp early

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria (3), right fielder Matt Joyce (20) and first baseman Carlos Pena (23) congratulate each other after they all scored in the sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Tropicana Field.

He took ground balls at third base. He's also been running, but not at full speed.

Longoria missed 85 games last season, with a torn hamstring. The Rays were below .500 while he was out. He had a procedure in November to fix the injured hamstring, and told 10 News he feels great.

"I was a little bit nervous going into it," said Longoria before his workout this morning. "But the way it's responded, the way the workouts have gone after the little procedure, I couldn't have been happier with doing it."

Joe Maddon mentioned giving Longoria a day off here and there, maybe having him DH once a week, to keep him fresh.

"I'd like to play every game, trust me, I try to play every game every year," said Longoria. "But just be healthy... Every year, every day... If I have to take a day off, here and there, not to go on the DL... Not to have to deal with that stress and worry, I'll do it."

Longoria said he will be ready to play Opening Day April 2nd, at home, against Baltimore.